The Gulf War Mycoplasma Study showed that nearly all the Gulf War
veterans who tested positive for mycoplasma infections were positive for
Mycoplasma fermentans. Mycoplasma genitalium was also found and a very small
percentage tested positive for Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

We recommend that all Gulf War veterans also get tested for: uranium
poisoning from exposure to depleted uranium, antibodies to experimental
vaccine adjuvants such as squalene, and if there has been any exposure to
organophosphate pesticides or sarin nerve gas get tested for the blood
enzyme, paraoxonase.

In addition, Veterans have experience long term side effects from
prescription drugs such as:
pyridostigmine bromide, given to troops to protect against nerve gas, and
the antimalarial drug Lariam (mefloquine).

If bitten by ticks or fleas carrying Borrelia burgdorferi you can develop
traditional Lyme Disease, which is self-limiting and carried by a deer tick.
Our experience with patients suggests that if the tick or flea also carries
co-infections, such as Babesiosis or especially Mycoplasmas, you may develop
"Chronic Lyme Disease" also known as "New Lyme Disease" as well as Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Autoimmune Diseases.

"Montana Lyme Disease" symptoms are similar to Lyme Disease. However, it
is caused by a Lyme disease-like agent that has adapted to the Rocky
Mountain wood ticks found in Montana and the Western United States.

PCR Biopsy - An antibody test is not useful since it can not
differentiate between an active infection, reactivated infection or
antibodies from polio vaccines. However, a PCR test can be done on biopsied
tissue and examined under a microscope to determine if there new polio virus
or reactivated polio virus. Other viruses associated with PPS and NPP to
test for:

1. INDIVIDUAL: The most accurate of the PCR blood tests is the individual
test for a specific species.

2. "MULTIPLEX": Multi-species ("3 in 1" or "4 in 1") mycoplasma PCR blood
tests are less expensive but their accuracy rate may not be as high as
individual species tests. Therefore, patients need to specifically ask the
laboratories for the published accuracy rate of their "multiplex" tests.
Additionally, some laboratories identify a combination of tests for one
price as a "panel" when in fact they are performing a "multiplex" test.

3. ANTIBODY TEST: The least accurate of the blood tests. In the case of
Mycoplasma fermentans (incognitus), antibodies are not produced until the
patient is near death. However, antibodies to the other mycoplasma species
are produced more readily.

4. CULTURE: Mycoplasmas are rarely successfully cultured, as they require
specialized culture mediums and weeks of careful laboratory work. In some
rare instances, culturing may be an alternative choice.

 Do not perform the General (or Family) Mycoplasma species screening
test. It is not as accurate as hoped. This test should never be used by
physicians as a screening test for mycoplasmal infections in patients.

 Have the blood drawn at the testing lab. If that is impractical, the
second best solution is to have the blood delivered to the lab within 24
hours. Blood samples left at room temperature for longer than 24 hours cause
half the mycoplasmas to die and disintegrate. After 72 hours at room
temperature all the mycoplasmas will have died and disintegrated. Once they
disintegrate, the specific genetic sequences needed for PCR amplification
will have vanished, resulting in a false negative.

 Have the blood sample drawn later in the day if you are shipping
overnight. This shortens the hours before the sample is processed. Also,
have the blood drawn early in the week rather than on a Friday so that the
sample arrives on a day when the lab is open, rather than sitting
unprocessed over the weekend.

 Ship blood samples with small packs of blue ice which keeps the sample
at a refrigerated temperature (not frozen). Place some packing material
between the blood sample and the blue ice to prevent the blood from
freezing, which causes coagulation, ruining the sample for testing.

 Do not take any antibiotics at least one month or longer before a PCR
blood test. The antibiotics will remove most of the infection from the
blood, reducing the chances of amplifying the specific genetic sequences
needed for an accurate result.

 Do not take vitamins, herbs or supplements that boost the immune system
and/or kill mycoplasmas. Examples would be colloidal silver, flax seed oil,
fish oils, vitamin C, IP6, immune boosters, garlic, transfer factor, olive
leaf extract, etc. Unfortunately, no research exists to guide patients on
how long they should avoid these products before drawing blood.

 The best time to have blood drawn is when the patient is symptomatic.
Mycoplasmas can become dormant from time to time, so if a patient is feeling
well it might not be the best time to test.

 If patients receive a negative result, but are still symptomatic, they
should consider being retested. Review our recommended testing procedures to
see if they were followed correctly. Discuss the merits of retesting with
your physician.

 Patients should never begin antibiotic treatment before being tested
for a mycoplasmal infection. Some patients start antibiotics before being
tested to see if they will show improvement. If they improve, they often
refuse to stop using antibiotics before taking a PCR test due to relapses.
Unfortunately, once antibiotics are started, the risk increases for getting
a false PCR result, even if the patient stops taking antibiotics later. This
leaves patients unsure of their exact infection, preventing them from taking
the most effective antibiotic. Without a positive test result, physicians
often refuse to prescribe long term antibiotics.

 Antibody Tests may be an alternative to PCR for patients already on
antibiotics. Although traditional antibody tests are generally not as
accurate as PCR, detection may be possible if a patient has developed
mycoplasma antibodies.

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